Yucca plant named ‘Yugosta02’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Yucca  cultivar named ‘Yugosta02’ is disclosed, characterized by green margins and a lighter interior foliage coloration. The new variety is a  Yucca , typically produced as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Yucca guatemalensis.

Variety denomination: ‘Yugosta02’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of chance discovery. The new variety originated as a naturally occurring mutation of an unpatented, variety Yucca guatemalensis ‘Silver Star’.

The new variety was discovered by the inventor, Ruud A. M. Scheffers, a citizen of the Netherlands, in July of 2009 in a commercial greenhouse belonging to the inventor in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands. After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor continued confidential testing and propagation of ‘Yugosta02’ assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Yugosta02’ was first performed at the commercial greenhouse of the inventor in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands by vegetative cuttings in July of 2009. Access to all plants was restricted, as plants were kept in a locked greenhouse not open to the public. Through subsequent propagation by vegetative cuttings, multiple generations have been reproduced, which have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Yugosta02’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Yugosta02’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Yugosta02’ as a new and distinct Yucca cultivar:

-   -   1. Variegated leaves, with green margins and lighter colored         interior.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Yugosta02’ are similar to the parent, Yucca guatemalensis ‘Silver Star’ in most horticultural characteristics. The new variety, however, produces leaves with a different color of margin compared to those of the parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘Yugosta02’ is in plant habit, and other horticultural characteristics most similar to the parent variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘Yugosta02’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands. This plant is approximately 48 months old, shown planted in a 5 liter container. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘Yugosta02’ plants grown in a greenhouse in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands. A steady temperature of approximately 20° C. at night and 20° C. during the day was maintained. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Yucca guatemalensis ‘Yugosta02’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate rooting: About 42 days at approximately 20° C. -   Root description: Moderately thick, moderately fibrous, not fleshy,     young roots white, near RHS 155A; older roots greyed-orange, near     171B.

PLANT

-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 48 months. -   Growth habit: Upright. -   Height: Average: 67.5 cm. -   Plant spread: Average: 70.0 cm. -   Normal pot size: 17 cm pots and larger. -   Growth rate: Moderate; average growth (in spring), approx. 5 cm per     month. -   Stem characteristics:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 37.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 2.6 cm.         -   Aspect.—Approximately 90° angle (near vertical).         -   Strength.—Very strong.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, slightly glossy, covered with leaf-scars.         -   Color.—Near RHS 172B to 175A, older stems near RHS 177B to             200D, leaf-scars near RHS NN155A to 156D.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, spirally placed on main stem.         -   Quantity per plant.—Average: 23.         -   Average length.—Approximately 41.5 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 3.8 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Ensiform.         -   Aspect.—Outward, in an average angle of 40° (0°=horizontal).         -   Apex.—Long and narrow apiculate, sharp to the touch.         -   Base.—Cuneate, sheathing. Sheathing? Yes. Sheath length:             Average 2.5 cm. Sheath width: Average 2.7 cm. Sheath color:             Upper side near RHS 145D, under side near RHS 145B to 144A,             margins darker, near RHS 143A.         -   Margin.—Finely toothed, sharp to the touch; teeth slightly             pointed towards the apex, therefore less sharp when rubbed             from apex towards base of leaf.         -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, glabrous, slightly glossy.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, glabrous, dull,             mid-section moderately rough to the touch.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Margins (average width             0.6 cm) near RHS 137A and 146A, mid section lighter, near             RHS 138B, 144B, 145B, 145C and 154D. All colors individually             present. Young foliage under side: Margins (average width             0.6 cm) near RHS 137A and 137B, mid section lighter, near             RHS 148D, 150C and 154C. All colors individually present.             Mature foliage upper side: Margins (average width 1.1 cm)             near RHS N137A and 139A, mid section lighter, near RHS 158D,             N189C and 189D. All colors individually present. Mature             foliage under side: Margins (average width 1.1 cm) near RHS             N137A and N137B, mid section near RHS 150D, 158D and N189D.             All colors individually present.         -   Venation.—Type: Parallel. Venation coloration:             Indistinguishable from leaf blade.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Flower production: Not observed. -   Disease/pests resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     normal diseases and pests of Yucca has been observed. -   Drought tolerance and temperature tolerance: Moderately high drought     resistance, good heat resistance. -   Fruit/seed production: Not observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Yucca plant named ‘Yugosta02’ as herein illustrated and described. 